Mugabe Party Says It Will Not Yield To New Opposition Demand: Report
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s party has rejected new demands by the opposition following meetings with South African mediators to get power-sharing talks back on track, state media said Saturday. “The only new but absurd suggestion from the MDC was that the cabinet be co-chaired by President Mugabe and Tsvangirai,” state daily The Herald quoted a source by Mugabe’s Zanu PF as saying, referring to MDC opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. “ZANU PF dismissed the suggestion, not just as insolent, but also stunning ignorance on how government works.” A delegation from Mugabe’s ZANU PF and the MDC met in Pretoria Friday with South African mediators to “gauge feelings and thereafter decide on the way forward”, the source told The Herald. The opposition would not comment on its demands while the negotiations are continuing. “I am not at liberty to outline any of our positions (…) until I get the green light from my authorities,” MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP.
Mugabe, whose ruling ZANU PF party lost its majority in March elections, has hinted he would soon form a government without the opposition, because of a lack of progress in the talks. The power-sharing talks were officially suspended in mid-August. Divisions remain over how Mugabe, 84, and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, would share power in a national unity government, including what authority they would have as president and prime minister. Analysts believe Mugabe is reluctant to yield responsibility for sensitive security ministries like the army, police and intelligence, given that Zimbabwe’s military are strong backers of the veteran president. According to The Herald ZANU PF is not willing to budge. “It (ZANU PF) said from its perspective all that remained was for the MDC to append its signature to the document or withhold it for as long as it likes knowing fully well that the process of forming a government would proceed unhindered,” the newspaper quotes the source as saying. Power-sharing talks began after both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on July 21. Mugabe won the June 27 run-off election after first-round winner Tsvangirai withdrew from the vote in protest at widespread election violence.
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